Thursday, September 30, 2010

I've been always interested in adventurous activities which are a main cause of improving my fitness levels. But, I've always pursued it respecting the limits of my pocket not for fitness, but for the sheer fun/thrill of it and fitness was a byproduct. So, bouldering being a part of adventure was also under that interest.
I'm just a pure amateur at it, but find it really interesting; especially I found it very interesting at Hampi owing to the ambiance created by all the ruins, mountains, river and the spectacular view around as shown below:

Bouldering is a style of rock climbing undertaken without a rope and normally limited to very short climbs over a crash pad so that a fall will not result in serious injury. It is typically practiced on large natural boulders or artificial boulders in gyms and outdoor urban areas. However, it may also be practiced at the base of larger rock faces, or even on buildings or public architecture.

It's also interesting at Ramnagaram which is the Mecca for Rock climbing and Bouldering and also at a lesser known place called Turahalli - which is good for beginners like me.

Although there are lot of technicalities involved which one could learn from Kanteerava Stadium which has an artificial wall for climbing enthusiasts and also trainers/experienced people available for training; you can also do it casually using trial and error method something like problem solving.
Or as most of us only look for a way to relax and unwind, it could be tried during a team outing or something like that through various adventure clubs in Bangalore. And yes, if you've a pair of Climbing shoes (which is a bit expensive in the range of 3k-4k), it'd be very helpful for better traction and edging capabilities.
Now whatever the reason may be, it is a real pleasure to do for the simple reason that it is challenging and exciting..

If we are aware we'd know that, both the body and mind are constantly arising and ceasing, conditions are in a state of constant turmoil. The reason we can't see this in line with the truth is because we keep believing the untrue. It's like being guided by a blind man. How can we travel with him in safety? A blind man will only lead us into forests and thickets. How could he lead us to safety when he can't see? In the same way, our mind is deluded by conditions, creating suffering in the search for happiness, creating difficulty in the search for ease. Such a mind can have only difficulty and suffering. In reality we want to get rid of suffering and difficulty, but instead we create those very things. All we can do is complain. We create bad causes and the reason we do is because we don't know the truth of appearances and conditions and try to cling to them.
Happiness is the eternal destination of human beings, but it is something material; which is not there when you seek it. But, as I remember a quote "Happiness comes in the most unsought of times".
As it is something very material, if something is there or some conditions/situations are as expected we are happy, otherwise we're in dumps. When a man can seek a state beyond happiness and sorrow, then only can he be truly free.